Accurate bolt action .17 HMR

[JBT47]

I am wanting a nice accurate bolt action .
17 HMR. I would prefer a heavy’ish varmint contour. I know next to nothing about 17’s so I would need advice as to the optimum barrel lengths. Have any of you serious rimfire guys found any particular factory .17 HMR’s that tend to shoot the better than other brands and models

I am not and have never been into rimfire shooting. I’m a Centerfire guy. I wish my Dad would have started me on a rimfire instead of a Browning BLR .308 at 7 yrs old.

Anyway, I understand that with almost any brand factory rifle (except Tikka) that it’s like playing the lottery re: accuracy since not much money or time is spent on mass produced factory barrels. Except for occasionally buying Tikka T3X’s due to Tikka’s just shoot and can hurt feelings if emotionally attached to our expensive custom rifles based off Rem 700 and custom 700 clones because even out of the box every Tikka I have seen has been considerably more accurate than any other factory rifle especially the T3X CTR’s and Super Varmints as they will shoot half moa with OTC Match ammo and co rideable better if develop a load it favors. I usually build custom rifles and I compete with them in various disciplines. But I will not build a custom
.17 HMR. Unless I’m mistaken, Tikka does not chamber the T1X in .17…if they do then I’ll buy a Tikka.
Thank you in advance for any guidance/advice on this as I know very little about rimfire even though I’ve been shooting Centerfire most of my life and shoot an average of a few thousand rounds per year.

 

[jpx2rk]

Anshultz would be odds on favorite for the most accurate, but most expensive with the exception of the Vudoo 17HMR, if still offered. CZ offers 17HMR in different styles, etc, but like any factory barrel, it's hit or miss. You can swap out barrels on the CZ's just like the Ruger 10/22 for the most part.

I have a Savage 93R 17HMR in a factory gray laminate stock, don't remember the price at purchase, but IIRC, was in the $350-400 range before C19 came about. It will hit a sage rat at 100 yds w/o much effort on my part on a regular basis.

17HMR ammo is RF ammo, so it's lot dependent, and choices are limited even more limited than 22lr.

 

[lawman29]

Anschutz 1717 (54 action)
Anschutz 1517 (64 action)
There will be some nice used ones for sale.

 

[Mark M.]

Anschutz has my vote

 

[CharlieNC]

Limited choice of mediocre ammo for these 17. I have one and enjoy shooting it, but the high rate of flyers is really annoying, or just accept it and move on.

 

[drover]

I am wanting a nice accurate bolt action .
Unless I’m mistaken, Tikka does not chamber the T1X in .17…if they do then I’ll buy a Tikka.
Thank you in advance for any guidance/advice on this as I know very little about rimfire even though I’ve been shooting Centerfire most of my life and shoot an average of a few thousand rounds per year.

Tikka does make the T1x in 17 HMR
Your problem is solved

Tikka T1x MTR 17 HMR Black Bolt Action Rifle - 20in

Buy Tikka T1x MTR 17 HMR Black Bolt Action Rifle - 20in at Sportsmans Warehouse online and in-store has everything for your outdoor sports adventure needs. Fishing, rods & reels, camping gear, tents and much more.

www.sportsmans.com

 

[skeeljc]

+1 for the Savage 94R.

 

[JoeMcNeill]

I use a Ruger RPR, heavy barrel and shoots 3/8" groups at 50 yards. My Ruger American 17 HMR does not do as well but 1/2 to 3/4 " groups are possible. A lot of people don't like Ruger's but if you know how to shoot they will do the job. A RPR in 22 lr is also a great shooter.
I have an Anschutz sporter model 64 and it is an excellent shooter but a lot more expensive.

 

[JBT47]

Than you to all who responded. Very helpful. I’ve narrowed it down to 2 different makers now. Problem is and always has been that I live in a rural area in the Southeast. Not certain any gun shop within. 2-3 hour drive will have either of the 2 I’m considering so I may have to just spend the money blindly and order it and if it does not suit me hopefully I won’t take a beating selling it with a few rounds.

I will know after 1 range session whether I will keep it or sell it on this site or to a friend locally. I’ll find all the different brands of .17 HMR ammo that I can source and shoot the various brands of ammo that 1st range session. As to accuracy, fit, and finish, etc. I imagine both of the 2 brand’s models are close in all relevant categories. Since it’s rimfire it’s just a matter of finding the ammo brands and lot #’s that the particular rifle shots best.

Thank you again.

 

[outasite`08]

Anshultz would be odds on favorite for the most accurate, but most expensive with the exception of the Vudoo 17HMR, if still offered. CZ offers 17HMR in different styles, etc, but like any factory barrel, it's hit or miss. You can swap out barrels on the CZ's just like the Ruger 10/22 for the most part.

I have a Savage 93R 17HMR in a factory gray laminate stock, don't remember the price at purchase, but IIRC, was in the $350-400 range before C19 came about. It will hit a sage rat at 100 yds w/o much effort on my part on a regular basis.

17HMR ammo is RF ammo, so it's lot dependent, and choices are limited even more limited than 22lr.

I have a 93R also. I swapped the Laminate stock for a Savage Thumbhole stock. Accuracy is great. I shoot golf balls at 200 yards regularly. Wind is the only limiting factor. Jeff

 

[hogpatrol]

Another vote for Anschutz, Have or have had multiple in .17HMR and .17HM2 including the pistol. Also own CZ 452s in the same cartridge. The Annies outshoot the CZs.

 

[Kookie]

Sako Quad with a drop-in Lilja 17 HMR barrel is one of the most accurate rimfire rifles I’ve ever owned.

I also won a lot of my club rimfire benchrest matches with this same rifle using a .22 lr Lilja drop-in barrel on it. The factory barrel was good, but the Lilja is exceptional. Simple to change barrels give you choice of .22 lr, .22 mag, 17 HMR, or 17 Mach 2.

 

[B23]

Some tend to be a little more accurate then others but the biggest variable is the ammo. The ammo is decent-ish and can sometimes be luck of the draw. CCI and Winchester make all the 17HMR ammo. If it's in anything but a Winchester or Browning label it's nearly certain CCI made it and with the exception of different bullets and lots CCI makes it all to the same spec.

I've spent more time testing and pulling apart 17 HMR and 17 WSM ammo than I am willing to admit. This stuff is massively mass produced and either they flat don't care or the manufactures range for what is acceptable quality control has a VERY wide range. When you can have nearly 200 fps variance in velocity within the same box of 50 and seating depth varies as much as 30 thou from base to ogive it's actually amazing this stuff shoots as well as it does.

No rifle no matter how good can make up for mediocre at best ammo so pick a 17 HMR rifle that suits your needs and you like then hope for the best. I am no fan of Savage but I have a model 93 HBSS laminate thumbhole stock 17HMR and a Sav. Target Sporter A17. Neither is remotely what I'd consider high end but I have laid waste to thousands of sage rats with them so they're good enough. If I was buying a new 17 HMR rifle tomorrow I'd get one of the CZ 457 models.

 

[Bugs]

As the above posters have stated, Anschutz, Tikka or a cooper if you can swing it.

 

[Dannybcc]

My Sako Quad 17 HMR with .900 Lilja barrel has won our USBR 100yd club match championship last two years in a row. The Tikka T1x 17 HMR I have shoots very well with its factory barrel but would have to give the nod to the Lilja Quad.

 

[RabbitSlayer]

Annie, cz, tikka, voodoo, rimx. However, rimfire is a rabbit hole of chasing ammo lots. IMHO its better to accept it for what it is. If it will shoot moa or better at 50 yards you are done. They are a fun little plinker and prairie dog killer out to 175 yards or maybe 200 and thats about it.

 

[DirtySteve]

Rim X action is what I did...

 

[Schandler]

I have all of them except voodoo and if i had to buy a rifle in 17 hmr today and not break bank - it would be a tikka or cz and sort the ammo as mentioned above. Ammo is the problem. Heck i have a couple savages that shoot good enough for anything at 100 yards !

 

[DiRTY DOG]

My Marlin 917V shoots very well, always has. The early batches of hmr were the best for accuracy, it got worse for a while and seems to have improved. Last year's lot of lead free was pretty good.

This was a 10-shot group at 100 yards over the chrono last fall. Hornady 15.5gr NTX. I held center, no adjustment for the light breeze. Not bad as is, but even better if you ignore shots 1 and 2!

 

[drover]

Anyway, I understand that with almost any brand factory rifle (except Tikka) that it’s like playing the lottery re: accuracy since not much money or time is spent on mass produced factory barrels. Except for occasionally buying Tikka T3X’s due to Tikka’s just shoot and can hurt feelings if emotionally attached to our expensive custom rifles based off Rem 700 and custom 700 clones because even out of the box every Tikka I have seen has been considerably more accurate than any other factory rifle especially the T3X CTR’s and Super Varmints as they will shoot half moa with OTC Match ammo and co rideable better if develop a load it favors. I usually build custom rifles and I compete with them in various disciplines. But I will not build a custom .17 HMR.

Unless I am misunderstanding your post you have experience with Tikka's and are familiar with them so to me the obvious answer for you would be the Tikka T1x in 17 HMR.

In 17 HMR I have owned a couple of Ruger American rimfires, a CZ 452 American, a CZ 452 Varmint, a Tikka T1x and the most consistent and least ammo picky was by far is the Tikka.

While there is a possibility of an Anschutz, Cooper, or Rim-X being slightly more accurate they will cost well over $2,000 - buy the Tikka and spend the money saved on ammo. Ammo is the weak link in the 17 HMR, it seems to vary more from lot to lot than does 22 LR ammo.
drover